Labrador MP irked military chopper used for fishing trip

[Locutus]

The military is defending the use of a Griffon helicopter for a fishing trip to No Name Lake in Labrador on June 8. (Facebook)

Labrador MP and federal cabinet minister Peter Penashue says he's disappointed that the Department of National Defence permitted a military helicopter to be used for a fishing trip in Labrador.

"I think that it sends the wrong message," said Penashue. "But at the same time I recognize that we hadn't put anyone at risk." "It doesn't help the image, particularly with what we just went through with search and rescue on Labrador."

A photo posted on Facebook on shows a yellow search and rescue helicopter parked on the shore with five people in the water. They appear to be fishing.

This time it wasn't the defence minister getting a lift, however; it was members of the search and rescue squadron.

The photo has prompted an angry response from many in Labrador, where the failure to find 14-year-old Burton Winters before he died on the ice is still fresh in many people's minds.


more/related:


Labrador MP irked military chopper used for fishing trip - Nfld. & Labrador - CBC News


MacKay reacts to SAR chopper used for fishing trip - Nfld. & Labrador - CBC News

 

[gerryh]

Squadron 444 did nothing wrong. Complainers should get a life.

 

[lone wolf]

Survival training exercise....

 

[gerryh]

no, the squadron commander stated right up front what it was.

"This trip was approved by the commanding officer of 444 Combat Support Squadron as an extraordinary measure to recognize the effort of the ground crews in completing essential maintenance and detailed inspection of one of the aircraft returning to Goose Bay from a deployment in Jamaica,"

 

[lone wolf]

no, the squadron commander stated right up front what it was.

"This trip was approved by the commanding officer of 444 Combat Support Squadron as an extraordinary measure to recognize the effort of the ground crews in completing essential maintenance and detailed inspection of one of the aircraft returning to Goose Bay from a deployment in Jamaica,"

No objections here.... Perks are rare among ground crews. They're great for morale....